Kentucky Legislature (healthcare bills) · February 10, 2026 · Primary source
KY HB 548: AN ACT relating to informed consent for medical examinations.
Summary
Kentucky HB 548 proposes a new section of KRS Chapter 216 prohibiting health care providers from performing pelvic, rectal, or prostate examinations without informed consent from the patient or their authorized decision-maker. Exceptions include court-ordered examinations. Violators face discipline by the applicable professional licensing board or accrediting agency. The bill has been referred to the House Health Services Committee and has not yet advanced further.
What this may mean
The bill, if enacted, creates a state-law informed consent mandate specific to sensitive physical examinations, enforceable through professional licensing discipline rather than civil monetary penalties or fraud statutes. Health care providers practicing in Kentucky, including hospitals, physician groups, and ASCs, would face board-level disciplinary exposure for non-compliant examination practices. No federal regulatory provision or CMS Condition of Participation is directly implicated by the bill's current text.
Informational only. Not legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional familiar with your specific facts before relying on any item.
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